40 Acres Sports

The Darius White highlights, commit, and interview start at about 3:26 in the video:

Five future Longhorns watch Darius White commit to join them on the Jumbotron. (Image: ESPN)

The 2010 Under Armour All-American game was a big one for Texas fans and for several future Longhorns. There was a fun week of events, incredible learning opportunities with top coaches and players and practices, and the week ended with an exciting (but very sloppy) game where the Black Team won big. Check out a few photos of the game above and below but be sure to check the ESPN and Rivals for more, higher resolution images.

LB Aaron Benson

CB Adrian White

WR Darius White

WR Darius White 2

WR Mike Davis

WR Mike Davis 2

One of the best players on the field during Saturday’s Under Armour All-American game was defensive tackle Taylor Bible. He played solid in the middle of the dominant Black Team defense, got frequent push, and made a few plays in the backfield. In the interview below, Bible talks to ESPN about how he and his teammates played, and about his future as a possible running back…

The newest Longhorn Darius White does a quick interview after the Under Armour AA game…

Mostly talking heads and only a few highlights, but this was the only video of the Under Armour All-American Game on ESPN I could find. Some good footage and discussion of the newest Texas Longhorn commit Darius White though so check it out:

Just moments ago WR Darius White committed to the Longhorns live on ESPN during the Under Armour-All American game. He’s a 5-star guy and showed today in the game what he’s capable of at the next level. More to follow…

Update: Video of Darius picking the good guys:

Update: Some links to stories on White’s commitment:

• White says Hook ‘em. Five-star receiver stays home and picks Texas over Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
• Darius White Makes the Call: It’s Texas.
• Time to celebrate - White picks UT (premium)
• Under Armour All-America MVP commits to Texas
• Updated 2010 Texas football commit list

Future Horn Adrian White (#8) covers a wide receiver in Under Armour practice. (Image: ESPN)

The Longhorns are still focused on the big prize with the national title game looming Thursday, but fans need to pay attention to the future by checking out today’s Under Armour All-America Game live on ESPN at 10am Central.

One of two major high school all star games, the Under Armour game features six future Horns and three huge remaining targets. Keep an eye on the wide receiver position for both teams as Demarco Cobbs and Mike Davis are two of the Horns’ latest and most explosive commits, and 5-star stud Darius White is expected to announce his future destination during the game. The Black Team defense is loaded with Horns. Defensive tackles Ashton Dorsey and Taylor Bible will be backed by linebackers who all may end up playing for the Horns in commit Aaron Benson and targets Jordan Hicks and Corey Nelson.

(click to see the positions and numbers of the Texas commits …)

The 2010 Under Armour All-American game features tons of future Horns, but some of the most interesting matchups include two guys who haven’t made their decision yet. Five-star wideout Darius White will announce his college choice during Saturday’s game, while top linebacker Jordan Hicks is reportedly down to Texas and Florida.

ESPNU is covering the Under Armour All-American practices this week and they’re also doing live blogs as things happen. They’ve posted some video of practice featuring at least one future Longhorn wide receiver. #2 is recent commit Mike Davis from Dallas Skyline and #4 Darius White is one of the Horns’ big remaining targets left out there. Check them out…

Not a lot of video of Davis, but very impressed with the his hands in the two catches they showed. Definitely looks like a natural pass catches and not just an athlete playing wide receiver.

Another day another high school all-star game full of future Texas Longhorns. Tonight five Texas commits will play in the Under Armour All-America Game live on ESPN at 7pm Central. Fans will be able to see a large chunk of the future Texas offensive unit as quarterback Garrett Gilbert and tight end Barrett Matthews will also have three big hogs blocking for them up front in linemen Mason Walters, Paden Kelley, and Thomas Ashcraft. Gilbert, who won two state titles and broke Texas state passing records as the quarterback of Lake Travis High School, is ESPN’s number one ranked quarterback prospect.

The positions and numbers of the Texas commits and targets are listed below:

Name	Number	Position	Commit?	Ranking
Thomas Ashcraft	75	Offensive Tackle	Yes
Garrett Gilbert	7	Quarterback	Yes
Paden Kelley	70	Offensive Tackle	Yes
Barrett Matthews	89	Tight End	Yes
Mason Walters	72	Offensive Tackle	Yes

View the full Under Armour rosters.

We’ll have thoughts on players from both all-star games later this week.

ESPN has posted several good videos and articles on the future Longhorns participating in this weekend’s Under Armour All-America Game. Players like Garrett Gilbert and Mason Walters are getting the chance to impress on a national stage and according to Bobby Burton of Rivals.com Gilbert in particular has done so. With five future Longhorns in the game they’re also getting an early opportunity to hang out together, something that will help the group hit the ground running once they get onto the 40 Acres.

ESPN got each of the guys to say a few things about the experience of playing in this game and about choosing to go to Texas. In the first few seconds of the video future LSU athlete Russell Shepard (who seems like a really good kid) passes by and tells the interviewer that future Horn Gilbert is the best QB in the country. I guess the Texas coaches got it right at quarterback after all. Watch below:

The players seem to get along well, which is particularly key for the three offensive lineman. It’s also great to hear that they’ve already got their eyes on a national title:

Mason Walters is 6-foot-7 and nearly 300 pounds. Still, the physically imposing offensive tackle is dwarfed by the larger-than-life expectations that constantly surround the football team at the University of Texas.

As one of five Texas commits participating in Sunday’s Under Armour All-America Game (ESPN, 7 pm), Walters is a principal member of a Longhorns recruiting class that is tall on talent. He says despite each individual’s ability, the group puts a single goal — a collective goal — at the top of its New Year’s resolutions.

“We want a ring,” Walters said. “That’s not a question. We don’t care about awards and stuff individually. I think that the guys want the team to win a national championship in the future. It’s something you can say, but it’s a lot of hard work.”

Under Armour All-Americans Garrett Gilbert, Paden Kelley, Thomas Ashcraft and Barrett Matthews will be joining Walters in Austin next year. Together, they constitute the core of a class that has nine players in the ESPNU 150 and was ranked third in ESPN.com’s most recent breakdown of the top recruiting classes.

Walters also shared his quick personal New Year’s resolutions which include his Halo 3 rank and getting fellow future UT linemate Paden Kelly to cut his hair. Mason certainly looks and sounds like a man already. Watch Mason below:

Love to see the kids bonding as this group of guys along with the players at the US Army All-American Game will make up the core of future Texas teams. You can catch Under Armour practices on ESPNU this week and the game will air live Sunday night at 7pm.

It’s still a year away, but already five 2009 Texas commitments have received the honor of being named to the Under Armour All-America Game roster. The Longhorns currently lead the way with players in the game, with quarterback Garrett Gilbert. tight end Barrett Matthews, and offensive linemen Thomas Ashcraft, Paden Kelley, and Mason Walters on the roster. The 2008 Under Armour game featured five Longhorns as well.

The list of players is impressive but still not 100% complete, I’m sure there will be some additions and subtractions between now and January 4, 2009. Maybe a few more Texas commits can earn their way onto the team, or maybe the coaching staff can convince Florida stud running back Trent Richardson to come play for the good guys.

Here are the Scouts, Inc. profiles on the five Texas players:

Garrett Gilbert

Quarterback
Lake Travis (Texas)
6-3, 186 pounds

Junior accolades: Set Texas records with 359 completions, 555 attempts and 4,826 passing yards. Also threw for 52 touchdowns and named First Team All-State by The Associated Press.

On goals for his senior season: “Hopefully to win another state championship.”

Favorite movie: “Wedding Crashers.”

Scouts Inc. says: The more you watch Gilbert, the more you realize how heady and savvy he is. He is similar to Aaron Corp from the 2007 class in terms of size and athleticism, only Gilbert is much further along at this stage and has a bigger arm. He has prototypical drop-back passer size but is a sneaky athlete who will surprise you and hurt you with his feet if you don’t respect that aspect of his game.

Barrett Matthews

Tight End
North Shore (Texas)
6-2, 225 pounds

Junior accolades: Caught 13 passes for 395 yards and seven touchdowns. Named to 22-5A First Team All-District and Houston Chronicle Second Team All-Area.

On why he chose Texas: “The coaching staff reminds me of our coaching staff [at North Shore] and Coach [Mack] Brown reminds me a little bit of Coach [David] Aymond. The facilities are amazing and I get to work with one of the best [strength] trainers in the nation.”

Favorite movie: “‘Any Given Sunday.’ I love the ‘piece with inches’ speech by Al Pacino’s character.”

Scouts Inc. says: An exciting prospect with the tools to be well-rounded at the college level. He’s a sound, tenacious blocker while also a weapon as a receiver. Has the ability to stay on the field in all situations and be a factor, making him a player to watch.

Thomas Ashcraft

Offensive Lineman
Cedar Hill (Texas)
6-5, 280 pounds

Junior accolades: First Team All-District, Honorable Mention All-State.

On why he chose Texas: “I felt at home at Texas. The coaches were real, they didn’t feel fake like they were putting on a show or it was rehearsed — they were real comfortable and natural. My parents liked it and my major [mechanical engineering] is a top major there.”

Favorite TV show: “The Boondocks.”

Scouts Inc. says: A gifted lineman with the size college coaches seek. He has shown the foot agility to both pull and trap from the offensive tackle position and also get back from a three-point stance and set before a defensive lineman gets into his frame. Ashcraft has the tools to develop into one of college football’s best, most athletic offensive linemen.

Paden Kelley

Offensive Lineman
Lake Travis (Texas)
6-6, 270 pounds

Junior accolades: Named to Texas 4A first team by Texas Sportswriters Association. Also named to First Team All-District.

On goals for his senior season: “I have hopes of leading my team to a back-to-back state championship and being awarded First Team All-State.”

Favorite band: Rage Against the Machine.

Scouts Inc. says: Kelley’s a very athletic offensive tackle with the versatility to also play guard. Tall and rangy, he looks the part, carrying his weight extremely well. Biggest strength may be his reach-blocking skills.

Mason Walters

Offensive Lineman
Frenship (Texas)
6-7, 285 pounds

Junior accolades: Named All-District, All-Area, All-South Plains, All-City and 4A Second Team All-State.

On what he’s looking for in a school: “Coaches you get along with for five years, a winning tradition and a bunch of good talent that is going to be there when you are there to give yourself a chance to win the national championship.”

Favorite food: Buffalo wings with ranch sauce.

Scouts Inc. says: A max-effort player with exceptional ability, he’s a self-starter who clearly loves the game. He goes after opponents like a heat-seeking missile. Comes off the ball aggressively and has the skills to reach, block back and even get to the second level with little trouble. Shows outstanding hustle by frequently getting a second block after executing his initial assignment.